Today in Soap Opera History (February 18)

1970: Dark Shadows' Jeb dug up Paul's grave.
1976: Ryan's Hope's Reenie begged her father to help her.
1999: Y&R's Katherine was tempted to drink.
2003: As the World Turns' Dusty returned to Oakdale.

"The present contains nothing more than the past, and what is found in the effect is already in the cause."
― Henri Louis Bergson

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

1970: On Dark Shadows, Barnabas had successfully destroyed the antique shop, along with the room where Jeb Hawkes (Christopher Pennock) changed into his leviathan form. With Jeb living in the coach house on the Collins estate, Megan (Marie Wallace) was intent on consecrating a room there for Jeb's future transformations. When Jeb impulsively embraced Megan, Nicholas Blair (Humbert Allen Astredo) was conjured up from the netherworld as the man now in charge of the leviathans' plot. Nicholas forced Jeb into the new changing room, and in his monstrous state, Jeb tried to kill Bruno (Michael Stroka) for betraying him to Nicholas. In the meantime, Carolyn (Nancy Barrett) had another dream about a blood-covered Jeb, only this time she also saw her father's grave. After Carolyn told Jeb of the dream, he and Megan dug up Paul Stoddard's (Dennis Patrick) grave and found Paul's corpse with a most unpleasant surprise.

1976: Julia Barr debuted as Reenie Szabo on Ryan's Hope.

1980: On Ryan's Hope, Siobhan (Sarah Felder) told Maeve (Helen Gallagher) that she hope Joe was safe and they could raise the baby together.

Thanks to Jennifer for sending in the clip above.

1980: On All My Children, as Palmer's (James Mitchell) masquerade party continued, Palmer started chasing after Daisy with an attack dog after she wanted to tell Nina the truth about her identity.

1980: On The Edge of Night, Miles (Joel Crothers) finally learned Nola drugged his watercooler.

1981: On Another World, a hospitalized Sandy (Christopher Rich) mistook Ada (Constance Ford) for his mother and mumbled about his father.

Thanks to Jennifer for sending in the clip above.

Michael David Morrison

1993:As the World Turns actor Michael David Morrison was found dead at age 33 in the New York apartment of an unidentified woman. Morrison died of an apparent drug overdose, authorities said. The actor, who joined the soap in 1988 and just signed a three-year contract, was married to actress Amy McDonald, with whom he had a 2-year-old son.

Susan Marie Snyder (aka Suzenne Marie Seradwyn), who played ATWT's Julie, spoke about Morrison's death in an interview with Capridge.com: "My co-star, Michael David Morrison, died from an overdose. They replaced him the next day. That was pretty traumatic. The part of me who made Julie real was deeply in love with the part of Michael who played Caleb. It was very difficult to separate that out."

1998: On Another World, Donna (Anna Stuart) was shattered upon learning that Michael was carrying an engagement ring for her when he died, and Lila (Lisa Peluso) was devastated by Shane's death and distraught to learn that his last words were about Vicky. After informing Vicky (Jensen Buchanan) that Shane died, Jake (Tom Eplin) begged Paulina not to reveal that he failed to warn Shane about the slippery mountain road, but Vicky overheard this revelation. Vicky promised not to tell Jake that she was with Shane shortly before his death. Donna convinced her that if their marriage were ruined by this fact, then Michael's search for Vicky on that fateful night would have been in vain. And upon bringing Lila home that evening, Matt realized that she was pregnant.

1999: On The Young and the Restless, alone with thoughts about the past, Kay (Jeanne Cooper) was at the end of her rope over having to share the Chancellor Estate with recently-named co-owner, Jill Foster Abbott, and was tempted to drink.

Thanks to FoxCrane for sending in the item above.

2003: Grayson McCouch debuted on As the World Turns as Dusty Donovan. As Rose sat and waited for Paul, a stranger (Dusty) mistook her for Lily and kissed her on the neck.

Celebrating a birthday today are:George Kennedy (ex-Albert, The Young and the Restless; ex-Carter, Dallas) - 91Anthony Pena (ex-Miguel, The Young and the Restless) - 69Jess Walton (Jill, The Young and the Restless; ex-Kelly, Capitol) - 67Cybill Shepherd (ex-Colleen, The Yellow Rose; ex-Phyllis, The L Word) - 66Vanna White (Guest Star, Santa Barbara) - 59Jayne Atkinson (ex-Dean, Gossip Girl; ex-Lindley, A Year in the Life) - 56Molly Ringwald (ex-Anne, The Secret Life of the American Teenager) - 47Hira Ambrosino (Tori, Days of our Lives; ex-Anne, General Hospital; ex-Pamela, The Young and the Restless) - 47Heidi Mark (ex-Sharon, The Young and the Restless) - 45Mari Morrow (ex-Rachel, One Life to Live) - 42Sarah Brown (ex-Madison, Days of our Lives; ex-Agnes, The Bold and the Beautiful; ex-Claudia/Carly, General Hospital; ex-Julia, As the World Turns) - 41Kristoffer Polaha (ex-Henry, Ringer; ex-Nate, Life Unexpected) - 39Jessie Ward (ex-Penelope, Desire) - 33Chelsea Hobbs (ex-Emily, Make It of Break It; ex-Meredith, Pasadena) - 32Genelle Williams (ex-Carla, Degrassi: The Next Generation) - 31Maiara Walsh (ex-Simone, Switched at Birth; ex-Ana, Desperate Housewives) - 27

EDITOR'S NOTE: If you would like to submit a soap history entry for this date or a future date, email editor@welovesoaps.com.